If you've never heard of fat burning foods then this is the perfect place to start. I'll show you some of my personal favorites, and some of the most delicious foods that burn fat!
5 Fat Burning FoodsOatmeal - Steel rolled and regular rolled oats are the top choice here. For some people oatmeal is just way too plain, but I say it is a blank canvas! Why not add some of the nuts and berries listed below for a delicious meal. Don't fall into the trap of going for the instant, sweetened or flavored varieties though.
The Science: Oatmeal is very high in soluble fiber, a powerful tool in any fat burning diet. Fiber helps to regulate blood sugar levels, prevents insulin spikes and releases energy slowly. Perfect conditions for fat burning hormones. Oats have also been proven to breakdown bad fatty acids and cholesterol in your blood, thus reducing the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Shop For: Steel rolled oats (if you can find and afford them) or regular rolled oats.
Avoid: Sweetened/ Instant oats.
Tip: Don't add sugars and syrups, instead try honey, berries and nuts.
Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, even peanuts!) - Don't be put off by the high fat content. This is natural and essential fat that will actually help you lose weight. Not many people realize this but nuts are packed full of vitamins and minerals too. I love to eat nuts as a snack, or as part of a larger meal.
The Science: Nuts are perfect if you are looking to lose belly fat. They are excellent sources of fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Like I've said many times before, eating fat doesn't make you fat. Eating the wrong kinds of fat is the problem. Nuts do not fall into the "bad" category. Actually they are quite the opposite.
The fibre-protein-fat combination fills you up quickly and suppresses your appetite. So they leave you feeling full and satisfied, helping to control cravings for junk food.
Shop For: Raw, mixed nuts for a full compliment of nutrients. Peanut butter (unsweetened and organic) is a great health snack too!
Avoid: Nuts that have things added to them. e.g. salt, chocolate or sugar covered, dry roasted etc. This is where nuts get their bad reputation!
Tip: By varying your nut intake you'll get a good cocktail of vitamins, minerals, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Peanut butter is also an excellent substitute for margarine or butter for sandwiches but once again you must go for the natural, unsweetened variety if you're going for fast abs.
Berries (Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries etc) - Along with nuts I'd probably say that berries are one of my all time favorite fat burning foods. They can add a much needed sweetness, acidity and taste to a meal that might otherwise seem boring. Salad, protein shake, mixed nuts, you name it and they go with it! Well almost!
The Science: Berries are a natural source of dietary fibre, which helps slow your carbohydrate absorption, controls blood sugar levels and prevents the insulin spikes that can cause your body to store fat. Berries are also packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, all of this with low calories - a real flab fighter!
Shop For: Organic, fresh or frozen berries.
Avoid: Tinned berries with added sugar and frosting.
Tip: Try exotic berries such as the Goji, which boasts one of the highest levels of antioxidants of any food on the planet!
Red Meat: That's right, we're talking beef, bison and game! Traditionally Beef is seen as a fatty meat. And it's seen as a fat gaining food rather than a fat burning food. However, Beef that has been raised on grass and other natural foliage is actually much healthier than the grain reared meat you'll find at your local grocery store. It has 30% less fat, but the fat content has the perfect ratio of essential fatty acids required for fat loss.
The Science: Beef raised on grass (a cow's natural diet) is much higher in healthy omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E and healthy fat than that brought up on an artificial diet of grains. Not to mention that grass fed beef is some of the highest quality protein available, vital for building muscle and burning fat.
Shop for: Organic is best. Bison, beef and game that are free to roam and graze as nature intended produce top quality meat!
Tip: Avoid grain fed, mass production animals. The protein in this meat is harder to digest, not to mention the higher 'bad fat' content.
Whole, organic, free range eggs: Most people are scared of eggs because they believe them to be high in fat and cholesterol. But the truth is, organic, free-range eggs have no affect on blood cholesterol (blame processed and refined fats for that). Furthermore, the essential fatty acids inside an eggs yolk are vital for fat burning.
The Science: Do you only eat egg whites? Well then you might be interested to know that the yolk contains 90% of an egg's nutrients. Iron, zinc, phosphorus, thiamin, B6, folate, and B12, panthothenic acid, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K and all of the food's essential fatty acids can be found in the yolk. Not to mention the fat that the balance of amino acids is much healthier in a whole egg.
Shop for: Just like red meat, free range and organic is the only way to go.
Tip: The quality of the eggs you choose is decided by the diet of the hens that lay them. Battery hens produce poor quality eggs, so if you know of a small farm shop that owns free range chickens then it is best to shop there.
